davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19

water in the ice-hole instantly freezes
when it is left undisturred; but some
times whole community uses one place,
and, as it is kept in turmoil during the
day, freezes but little till night. A water
hole in the ice may get ten or fifteen feet
deep before spring. The object in early
cutting the ice for water is twofold; the
way to it is kept clear, and the ice is not
permitted to freeze so thick as it other
wise would. In many places in Russia
the ice is ten feet thick.
Often people carry water for miles
when the mercury is down to 800 below
zero, and the contents of the buckets are
solid masses when they reach their desti
nation. But this may be blessing in
disguise. The Neva is filthy river.
The water is almost as dirty and smells
much worse than that in the Chicago
river in the metropolis of Illinois. The
freezing and thawing processes have
the effect of purifying and killing the
animal life in it. A large proportion of
the inhabitants of the principal cities
are supplied with water by men who run
water-carts. These consist of rough
old vehicle with large barrel.
The men who deal in water are able to
Withstand the rigors of the North Pole.
They are used to the most severe weather,
and frequently drive their carts around in
the dead of winter in their shirtsleeves.
They sell the water at so much a pail
usually about ten kopecks gallon, which
is nearly five cents of our money. For
some reason the Russians do not like
snow water. One of the most dreaded
diseases among them is scuryy, and they
believe snow water tends to bring that
upon them.
By the early part of October snow is
so deep that farewell is hidden to all exter-
nal views. People put on their snow
glasses to save their eyes, don the heaviest
wearing apparel, and go about unbroken
parts Of the cities or country on snow
shoes. If there have been heavy rains
during the fall the ice crop may be gath
cred from the lowlands and streets on the
! level of the river-all Is q glare of ice.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
CHURCH-GOING.
The Necessity Felt for Some Forms OF
Public Worship.

The necessity for some form of public
worship is felt very early in the progress
of civilization. Savages appear to build
temples almost as soon as they evolve
into communities. The settlement Of
particular days for religious ceremonies
comes later; at first these are the accom-
paniments of irregular occasions, such
as the beginning of war, the birth OF
an heir to the throne, etc.
1t is the natural tendency of the pious
mind to invest with peculiar sanctity
the place of PRAYER However shabbily
it may be fitted up, however humble the
structure, the spot where humanity seeks
communion with the mighty spirit OF
the universe is like the ground about the
burning bush, whereon Moses stood
with shoes removed.
And be it noted that this reverence for
church or chapel is not necessarily de-
pendent on an absolute acceptance OF all
the doctrines preached therein. A relig-
ious man may we'll bend his head beneath
the benediction of clergyman with the:
dogmas of whose sermon Just concluded
he does not wholly coincide. 1t is the
prayer and praise that there ascend
which bless the place, rather than the
formal ceremony of its conservation or
the catechsm of its owners.
1t is undeniabe that church-going
often degenerates into mere matter OF
routine. Perhaps it is part of the weak
ness of poor human nature that anything
constantly repeated loses something OF
it's effectiveness on US. This may serve
to account for the irreverent conduct OF
many very good people in their churches
The preacher to a large congregation
who is not amazed by frequent whisper
ings while he is actually going through
the ritual, or exhorting, is rare subject
for congratulation. Many of our fash
ionable congregations are resolved into
Sorosis societies Immediately after the
dismissal. Between the pew and the
door the accumulated gossip of the week
is hastily interchanged
To talk in church is all wrong, even II
the service is over. How much OF the
deep religious emotion appropriate 10
Sunday morning can survive this Hood
tide of tittle-tattle and be taken per-
manently into our lives? Is it NOS
rather all swept away before we emerge
into Gods sunlight?
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19

black mud, which works through, and
as the frost comes from the ground a
terrible mess is the result. The streets
are not free from filth till August, when
the rains begin, and fall, with its chills
and fever, has returned. Then it is the
same thing over again.
The people in the country do not fare
so well as those in the city during the
winter. They have stock to feed
and fires to provide. The sheds for
the cattle are made of straw and poles,
are low on the ground and generally
comfortable. But a serious difficulty
is encountered in securing water for
the stock. Sometimes the wells and
streams for miles are frozen to the bot
tom. In such instances the snow is
melted and the peasants drink this
and eat dried fish and meats till whole
families perish from scurvy.
Travel in the country during the win
ter months is almost wholly by means of
snow-shoes. The snow is too deep and
the travel so infrequent that horses can
not be made practicable. Reindeer and
dogs are used when the snow gets crust
strong enough to bear their weight.
Sometimes sledge drawn by reindeer
or dogs breaks through the snow and the
party are not seen till spring, and then
in decomposed condition. A more des-
olate scene cannot be imagined than q
Russian village in January. The little
straw covered huts belch forth strands of
smoke, and the tops can just be seen
above the snoW-or rather not the tops,
but curvatures representing them. The
horses, cows, sheep and family sometimes
| live under the same roof-no floor but
the ground; poor, smoking, cold fire
in the centre of the hut, and men, women,
children, dogs and all the farm animals
budding and shivering around to keep
life and body together. P. s. HEATH.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
Especial Correspon dence.]

IF there were long and heated summers
in Russia the ice crop would be an i'm
nortant one. but as ice is only needed
durinr three or four months IN the year
not yerv much Importance is attached TO
it. The ice'harvest, however, takes place
in the verv heart of the cities, 1t being
found in abundance everywhere. 1t IS
hauled to the houses, where 1t is stored
on sledS.
Winter is the gay season in St. Peters
buro and there is little doing in society
till then. The streets are kept as smooth
as a floor by immense bodies OF laborers,
who work day and night. When fresh
snow falls they roll it smoothly and COM
pactlv down on the principal streets, so
that early in the morning, if the snow
has fallen at night, you can go about
with polished boots and not get them
soiled. The rough edges and knobs are
cut down as carefully as though the
streets were of everlasting stone, and
the shavings and pieces are promptly
carted outside the city like noxious gar
bare in summer time. Everybody owns
one, two or three fine horses, and mag
niticent sleighs are common:
1t is in the winter that all the horse
racing takes place in Russia The rivers
about the cities are the scene. Many or
the bridges are pOntOOns and are taken
down and put away as soon as the rivers
freeze, so that sleighs and sledges pass
over on the ice without hlndrance. The
ice is kept scrupulously clean, Is smooth
and level, and horses trOt down IN the
thirties and run in two, hve and SIX.
What they could do on an ordinary race
course their owners do not know. there
is no racing in summer time.
The popular amusement is slelghlng.
1t outranks all else. There Is no such
thing as baseball here. Occasionally
there is a game of cricket, and lew
practice archery; but everybody goes
sleighing daily in the winter, and all who
can afford it have horses for racing. The
turnouts in the summer on the boule-
wards at Chicago, in Central Park, New
York, the parks in London and IN the
Champs Elysees at Paris, have no COM
parison with those seen in the streets or
St. Petersburg or on the Neva IN the
winter. The horses here are the hand
soonest in the world-long, graceful
blacks, with immense names and flowing
tails which sweep the ground, all per-
fectly clean and glossy. The slelghs are
very beautiful, and are drawn by some
times five horses abreast. -Four horses
to sleigh are common.
When the snow disappears in the spring
the streets present a horrid sight. The
Accommodations of seven or eight months
are there, and weeks of the hardest labor
are required to clean them. 1t is then that
the lazy, filthy Caucasian, perhaps from
miles distant, comes in with his wagon
and long haired cows or steers to haul
the garbage away. He puts up
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
Superstitious Peasants.

The Russian peasantry appear to be sunk
in ignorance and superstition. During the
recent eclipse of the sun, three famous Rus
sian savants descended in balloon at viii
lage in the neighborhood of Moscow, where
upon the peasants rushed out of their houses,
shouting, "Let us shoot these evil beasts that
have darkened the sum-" The savants were
lucky to escape with their lives, but the bal
loon was destroyed, being regarded as an in
the peasantry into paroxysms of terror and
apprehension wherever it was visible.-Ez.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
A DiferentSpecies.

Mr., Highflier-No, Mr.. Dudeville, once for
all tell you care for no man.
Dudeville-No man? But still you may
care for me, don't you know?
The honest man who dies poor IS rlch II ne'
only holds his own.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
A New Jersey Industry.

The cultivation of cranberries in New Jer-
sey was begun on a small scale by john
Webb in 1857. There are now between 5,oOo
and ZOO acres of marsh land under cultl-
walton in that State alone, or about one
fourth of the cranberry-growing, area OF the
country. In Massachusetts, and Wisconsin
cranberry culture is also carried on quite eh Z,
tensively There were picked last to year earl IN
the New Jersey marshes nearly 200 Goo push,
els of cranberries, which were sold at -, an
average price of 81 bushel. Inc yleiud .n of
last years, but it is expected that the price
viii be high enough to insure as large r. re.
turn to the growers as they had from the
crop of 1886
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19

the river and cut and
mark their holes in the
ice. W alter is carried
in pals of Russia iron,
the bail of which is
caught in a notch of a
long swinging pole,
and this rests across
the shoulder, so that
one person may carry
two buckets. T b e
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
RuHaln Bill.

It is said that Colonel Codys share Of the
profits Of the American Exposition in Lon
don consisted of $3.50, 600 and position in
society,"
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19

u r ING seven
months in every
wear the e tire
face of the earth
in Russia is COW
cred with snow,
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19

sideboards and takes an i'm
mense load of filth away. He
is paid two roubles NINETY
cents day for the work Of
himself and yoke of steers or
cows, but he gets the garbage
for his masters land. The
streets are covered with bould-
ers the size of a mans fist.
The rock is laid down in the
St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-19
QUEER VEGETABLES,
THE STRANGE SIGHTS SEEN IN THE
PLANT KINGDOM.

Some of the Various Kinds of Fungi-Prey-
ing Upon the Dead-The Mushroom and
its Place in Natural History-Toadstools
and Their Peculiarities-The Stink-horn.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

Hon. A. M. Bowman, of the Short-horn
breeding firm of Palmer & Bowman, pub
fishes in the Richmond "Dispatch" a long
and able argument in favor of the estab-
lishment by Congress Of cattle quaran-
tine station at Newport News and the pas
sage of law for stamping out cattle
disease. In concluding, he makes the fol-
lowing moderate and sensible explanation
of the failure of the agricultural interests
of the country to secure needed legisla-
ton:
One of the chief reasons that the wants
OF the farmer and stock-raiser are so often
neglected by our law makers, is because
they do not present their wants with sufi-
Gent force and earnestness to their repre-
sentaJives. The writer is not one OF those
who would charge the mass of our legisia-
tors as being inimical to the interests of
their agricultural constituents. Most OF
them are willing and anxious to look after
the interests of the farmers if the latter
will bnt make their wishes known. If the
friends of our cattle industry will but
earnestly and persistently press this ques-
ton upon tie American Congress the nee
essary legislation Tor ''extirpatlng conta-
giGus cattle diseases will be secured at
once.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14
THE HISTORY OF A GRIM /.
4 CONNECTED STORY OF THE
LILLIAN MADISUN TRAGEDY.

To. day has been appointed f or the exc,
cution, in Richmond, of T. j. Cluverius
for the murder of of his cousin, Fannie
Lillian Madison. We give below con-
nected history of the crime of which he
was convicted, and which has excited more
interest than any event in criminal juris-
prudence that ever took place in Virginia:
A RUINED LIFE.
Four years ago Thomas j. Cluverius,
of King and Queen county, graduated in
law at Richmond College and went back
to his native county to establish s prac-
tice. He became prominent as a member
of his church, and was chosen Superinten-
dent of its Sabbath School. at college he
had been apparently model Of modest
propriety and piety. But 1t came to light
after he left, that during this time his life
outside of the college had been different
from his professions, and that il one OF his
visits to forbidden places he had assumed
the name Of ''Merton," nama that was
to come up in startling way a long time
after that. In the adjoining county Of
King William lived, with her father, bis
cousin, Fannie Lillian Madison, who was
very fond of him, though they were not
accounted lovers. He was her only male
visitor. He had often taken Ter in his
buggy to her grandfather (his uncle's)
to .pend the night. On July 9, 1884, she
left her fsther's and went to her grand
fathers to stay He came there On the
10Th. and several times after, and made ex-
cuses to be alone with her The medical
testimony of the case liked that time as
anont the date Of her ruin. In her trunk
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14
4 SITUATION OF INTEREST.

There will be heard this month.
before Judge Bond of the U. S. Cir
cult Court, case that brings the ques-
ton up squarely and plainly whether the
United States las the right to dismantle
one Of the States composing it by casting
it's officers into prison. The particulars
of the suit are these: Three judgments
have been obtained in the u. 5. Court
against the State Treasurers of Fauquier
and Loudoun for damages for levying on
property after they were rendered coupons
In payment of taxes. 1t is the duty
of the Indemnifying Board of Virginia
to pay these damages for the Treasurers,
bud Judge Bond has issued process
against the members of the Board-Audi-
tors Marye and Ruffin, Attorney General
Ayres, Secretary Of State Flournoy, and
Treasurer Hartman, to bring them into
court, there to be enjoined from paying
them. The Board are to decide whether
they will obey the laws Of their State or
the decree of the U. S. Judge. and if the
former, to be imprisoned for contempt
of the latter. Auditor Marye and Treas
urer Hartman viii be before the same court
to answer for refusing coupons rendered
them, as Auditor and Treasurer, by the
City Treasurer of Petersburg in settle
ment of his accounts. The action of the
court in both of these cases SO far, has been
clearly in contravention of the eleventh
amendment to the constitution; how much
further Judge Bond will 60 remains to be
seen.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14
POLITICAL NOTES.

A special to the Louisville sCommer-
view with close friend of Hon. John S.
Carlisle, in which he says that in all prob
ability the Speaker will be candidate for
the United States Senate. The announce
ment will create deal of excitement in
Kentucky political circles. DIR. E D..
Stamford of Louisville, an ex-Congress-
man, millionaire, and formerly President
of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company, has announced himself candi-
date.
The action of the Democratic Senate of
Indiana, Friday morning, indicates the
probable outcome of the Senatorial
squabble. Thursday the Senate adopted
resolution to meet with the House that
morning to hear the message read, but
Immediately after the opening of the ses-
sion change of front was indicated by
Senator Bailey g motion to reconsider this
action. 1t was carried by party vote,
and, upon the order of President Smith,
the Clerk read the message to the Senate.
This action is understood to mean that
the Democratic majority in the Senate are
not willing to take chances on joint ses-
sion for any purpose, for fear that during
its continuance the Republican may at
tempt coup d'etat of some sort, or by
bnlldozing processes force the election of a
United Senator before the Senate has set
tied the question of permanently seating
Republican Senators against whom charges
are pending.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14
; pr7BEAT FOR THE SICK.

Tbare ia but one thing more deserving
of charity than the poor, and that is the
sick poor. Poverty is bad enough at best,
hut when it comes in company with sick
ness. is CHASTITY indeed. The two combined
make short and cruel work of men and
women who under other conditions might
live profitable lives to the community. The
Masons, who have for centuries been IN
the foremost rank in practical charity,
have done good work in Lynchburg,
which might be copied with good results
by the order in Stanton, it the public and
especially the church element would aid.
Marshall Lodge of Masons have rented
house, furnished it, supplied it with
the proper officers and opened it to the
public as a Home and Retreat for the
Sick. OF course they are not able to make
this free, but only a moderate sum is
charged for care and nursing during med
ical treatment. Nearly all the physicians
of that city have generously agreed to at
tend gratuitously such pttlents as go to
the Home 1t costs $500 per annum to
endow cot there and the matter of en-
dowment is being agitated among the DIFF
ferent churches and the LADIES' Relief So
cIety.
A hospital is a necessity to every town,
] and the fact that such hospital as we
speak of, would be under the auspices of
such body as Staun6on Lodge of Ma
sons. would give the public of all classes
that confidence in its management that
would soon make it what Staunton so
much needs-a place where the disabled,
whether poor or rich, whether by accident
or disease, may have the nursing of train
ed purses and that sort of general atten-
Jionto the sick or wounded, which can only
| under the rarest circumstances be gotten
| in the homes Of the wealthy and which
even wealth itself does not often secure.
, It is charity which. so to speak, is not
charity, but an outgrowth of civilization
&; which puts the rich and poor alike in pos
session of chance for recovery enjoyed IN
like comfort at no place save an hospital.
| We commend it to the attention OF Staun-
ton Lodge for two reasons: First, be-
cause we know of no other organized body
more likely to be enlisted by an appeal for
| humanity, and second, because there is no
other body as likely to succeed if it under
takes putting the scheme in practice.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

bly, spending the early days of 1857 in
profanity. In that State unless some one
gubernatorial candidate has majority of
the vote cast, the election goes into the
legislature. In November, the Democratic
candidate for Governor had plurality
of 1000. but not majority of the vote
cast, and last Friday the legislature.
which is Republican, assembled and
elected full Republican State ticket.
Governor, Lt.-Governor, Secretary of
State, Treasurer and Comptroller.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

the dispatch" The reporter at his de-
sire went to his cell, G. having expressed
a wish to thank him for the fairness with
J going in, the prisoner rose and tears gath
cred in his eyes as he said: 81 thank you;
know you would not expect me to have
| anythin g to say"
THE FINAL APPEAL.
After appealing to the Supreme Court
and being refused a rehearing, Cluverius
appealed to the Governor for commuta-
ton. He accompanied it with statement
of his whereabouts on March 18th, remark
able for the fact that be does not men
tion the name of the murdered girl once,
nor admit having seen her. 1t was here
that the fatal watch-keY reappeared, for
the Governor had it opened by the jeweler,
who identified his work, and thereby as the
key given him by Cluyerius to mend. This
opening also brought out the fact that the
jeweler had been paid money by detective
formerly in the employ of the prisoner, to
fail to recognize his work when the key
was opened, a transaction that was ex-
posed to the Governor by the jeweler.
THE LAST WEEK.
The latest facts of the case are too fami-
liar to our readers to need repeating Dur
ing this week a petition from members of
the Society Of Friends has been sent tsi
Governor for communication, and the
er's friends and counsel have been
trying to find some new facts on VIII
rest another petition to the Governt
30 far have failed. Cluverius still re-
calm and unmoved. His aged and id
father and mother were to visit hi
the last time yesterday. The galloy
been prepared and in all like
the prisoner will suffer betWee
hours of il and / CLOCK to-day. Ee
has maintained his GOODNESS and protesta-
lions of Innocence to the last, and on
Tuesday handed this to gentleman who
has kindly sung for him in prison:
Captain Frank W. Cunningham, let noe
say that no words Of mine can properly
thank you for the cheer and comfort you
have brought me in my lonely hours
By your sweet music. Whatever
others may say or think. can say to you
l am innocent; may We all meet in heaven
where sorrow is not. 1--WE shall sing on
that beautiful shore.''
THOMAS J. CLUvERIUs.
January IL, 1887.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

A labor strike among the colored long
shoremen at Newport News, ordered from
New York headquarters, and the destruc-
ton of property there has caused the
Judge of Elizabeth City county to call on
the Governor for troops. Gov. Lee sent
one colored and two white infantry COM
panies from Richmond and one colored
and one white company from Hampton, to
tie spot. The colored State Guard of
Richmond are now in charge of the wharf.
Besides burning the hotel bath houses,
loading the ships, and breaking into bond
cd whiskey and drinking it, the strikers
had done no other violence up to Wednes-
0aV
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

The steady improvement of business Is
freshly illustrated by the report of the
Massachusetts Savings Bank Commission
ers for the year ending with October. The
amount of deposits is SIG. 199, 408 larger
than in 1885, which is gain of nearly
the record in 1884. There is no more
sensitive business barometer than the saw
ings bank, and the uniformity with which
large gains in deposits are shown by the
reports in the different States is therefore
matter of much significance.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

The New York Chamber of Commerce
has adopted a report of its committee ap'
proving Regan's Inter State Commerce
bill, with the exception of the clause pro.
hibiting greater charges for the shorter
than the longer haul, and the clause pro
hibiting pooling. An endorsement about
equal to saying that toddy is az agrea.
BILE drink if the whiskey and suga- are
left out Of it. Jay Gould himself couid
have voted for that report.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

eighty-eigbth year with as much energy
and as much life as il it were its eighth.
We often disagree with our old friend,
but its worst enemy would not undertake
TO say of it that it was not a hrst-c class
newspaper with all the news from every
where we'll up on time.